GUM PROBLEMS
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Gum Problems & Procedure

"You can never loose a thing that belongs to you"

Gum disease affects most people at some stage in their life.Careful and regular cleaning of teeth, gums and dentures can help prevent gum disease.Getting treatment early can help save teeth that are at risk from gum disease and other conditions – see your oral health professional if you have swollen or bleeding gums or loose teeth

What is a Gum disease?

Gum disease — also called periodontal disease — refers to inflammation and infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Poor oral hygiene can result in gum disease. Gingivitis and periodontitis are major causes of tooth loss in adults,But some people are more prone to this condition than others are, even with proper brushing and flossing.If this is left untreated, it can become a more serious infection known as periodontitis.

How common is periodontal disease?

Almost half of all adults in the India have some form of gum disease. It’s the leading cause of tooth loss.

What causes periodontal disease?

  • Gum disease is usually caused by a build-up of plaque on teeth and along the gum line. Plaque is a sticky coating containing bacteria. The immune system tries to get rid of plaque with an inflammation response. This is seen as redness and swelling of the gum around the tooth.Plaque provides the perfect environment for the bacteria that can cause gum disease and tooth decay to live and multiply.

Gum disease risk factors

Possible periodontal disease risk factors include:

  • Smoking or other tobacco use.
  • Poor oral hygiene.
  • Autoimmune diseases, including lupus, scleroderma and Crohn’s disease.
  • Hormonal changes, particularly during puberty, pregnancy and menopause.
  • Genetics (you’re more likely to get gum disease if your parents, grandparents or siblings have it).
  • Heart disease.

What are the symptoms of periodontal disease?

Periodontal disease symptoms may include:

  • Reddish or purplish gums.
  • Bad breath (halitosis).
  • Unpleasant taste.
  • Pain when chewing.
  • Gum recession (gums that pull away from your teeth).
  • Loose teeth.

A change in the way your teeth fit together

Stages of Gum disease

There are four stages of gum disease:

Gingivitis. This is the earliest stage of gum disease. It starts with red, puffy gums that may bleed when you brush or floss. At this stage, there’s no bone loss. As a result, gingivitis is totally reversible with proper treatment.

Mild periodontitis. The bacteria have seeped beneath your gums, affecting the supporting bone. Your gums may pull away from your teeth, creating pockets around them.

Moderate periodontitis. Left untreated, bacteria begin to erode the ligaments, soft tissues and bone that hold your teeth in place. You may notice bad breath and pus (infection) around your gum line. Some people develop pain at this stage.

Advanced periodontitis. Cause your teeth to become loose and eventually fall out.

When treated early enough, gum disease is reversible. But if you’ve already lost bone around your teeth due to infection, the disease is too advanced to reverse. However, you can manage it with proper treatment and consistent, diligent oral hygiene.

Is periodontal disease curable?

Gum disease isn’t curable, but it’s manageable with appropriate treatment. You can’t cure it because once you lose structural support around your teeth, you don’t usually get all of it back. However, periodontal treatment can reduce infection and rebuild your bone and tissue to some degree.

Another factor is genetics. There are many different types of oral bacteria. Some people are simply more prone to having the kind that causes gum disease.

One stage of gum disease is totally reversible — gingivitis (very early periodontal disease). If you detect gingivitis early enough, you can reverse it with regular dental cleaning and diligent oral hygiene.

How is periodontal disease treated?

There are several periodontal treatments available. The one that’s right for you depends on the severity of your condition and a number of other factors, including:

Scaling and root planing

Scaling and root planing is similar to routine dental cleaning. But it cleans deeper beneath your gums, removing plaque and bacteria where your toothbrush and floss can’t reach. During this procedure, your doctor cleans (scales) the plaque from your teeth and then smooths out (planes) your root surfaces to keep bacteria from reattaching.

Pocket reduction surgery

People with moderate to advanced gum disease may need pocket reduction surgery (also called osseous surgery).During this procedure, a periodontist makes an incision (cut) in your gums and creates a flap. Next, they’ll clean the plaque, tartar and bacteria from your teeth roots and smooth out any rough areas. Once complete, they’ll reposition your gums and close the incision with stitches.

 LANAP (Laser-assisted new attachment procedure)

Some periodontists also offer pocket reduction with LANAP. This procedure treats periodontitis using a handheld laser.

Bone grafting

Your periodontist may use a dental bone graft to replace bone that you’ve lost to gum disease.

Gum grafting

If you’ve lost gum tissue to periodontal disease, your dentist may recommend gum graft surgery, also called tissue grafting. This procedure covers exposed teeth roots and adds thickness to your gum line.

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR)

During GTR, a periodontist places an artificial membrane between your gums and the newly placed bone grafting material. Soft tissue regenerates faster than bone, so the membrane keeps that space open so new bone can grow there instead of soft tissue.

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) contain growth factors that speed up healing and tissue regeneration. our periodontist can get PRF and PRP from a small sample of your blood. Then they’ll place the platelet-rich plasma or fibrin at the surgical site.

Prevention

Prevention

Can I prevent periodontal disease?

Yes, in most cases, you can prevent gum disease with consistent and proper oral hygiene. Some people are more prone to gum disease due to genetics or other health conditions. In these instances, you may need more frequent cleanings with your dental hygienist.

How can I lower my risk for periodontal disease?

To reduce your risk for gum disease:

  • Brush your teeth two to three times every day.
  • Floss between your teeth daily.
  • Use an antibacterial mouthwash.
  • Avoid smoking and other tobacco use.
  • Visit your dentist for regular cleanings and exams.

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